Health Education Resources

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Each March, landmarks around the world shine red to raise awareness for Myeloma Action Month. This global campaign—Light the World Red—builds toward World Myeloma Day on March 26, when iconic buildings and monuments illuminate the night sky to honor those living with multiple myeloma and to raise awareness about this often-overlooked disease.

Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the world, yet many people have never heard of it. The disease affects plasma cells, an important part of the immune system that helps the body fight infection. Over time, multiple myeloma can weaken bones, damage organs, and compromise the body’s ability to stay healthy.

This issue is especially important in our community. Black Americans are diagnosed with multiple myeloma at twice the rate of other groups and experience significantly higher mortality rates. That reality calls for greater awareness, earlier detection, and stronger access to quality care.

While we cannot eliminate these disparities overnight, we can make meaningful progress by working together. Key steps include:

• Increasing community awareness and promoting health equity
• Expanding participation in clinical trials among minority populations
• Improving access to knowledgeable healthcare providers and quality care

Education and representation matter. When communities are informed and engaged, outcomes improve.

Together, we can help replace uncertainty with knowledge and fear with hope. Talk with your doctor. Learn the symptoms. Share information with family, friends, and neighbors.

When communities speak with one voice, awareness grows—and lives can be changed.

Let’s light the world red and stand together in hope.

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Category: Health Education Resources

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Category: Health Education Resources

Here’s your wake-up call: Daylight saving time may affect your heart health

As we prepare to “spring forward” on March 8^th, the American Heart Association cites scientific research that indicates the springtime change may negatively impact your heart and brain health. While gaining extra daylight may be a nice change, the transition could come with some health challenges.

Losing an extra hour of sleep may not be the worst thing that could happen when you “spring forward” at the start of daylight-saving time. According to the American Heart Association’s researchers have noticed a marked increase in heart attacks and strokes in the days following this time change each year.

“We don’t really know exactly why there is an increase in heart attacks and strokes during the change to daylight saving time. It’s likely connected with the disruption to the body's internal clock, or its circadian rhythm,” said Maria Delgado-Lelievre, M.D., a distinguished Hypertension Specialist at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. “It’s important to be aware of this increased risk, especially if you already have heart disease or other risk factors.

The American Heart Association offers a few tips to get ahead of the time change:

• Do start now to get outside and get as much natural light as possible each day. This can help adjust your body rhythm for the change to come.
• Do begin winding down a little earlier in the evenings ahead. While you can never make up lost sleep, going into the time change well-rested can help.
• Don’t compensate with extra caffeine. It may feel like an extra coffee or two can help you through the midday slump, but too much caffeine is not good for your heart.

The Association’s recommended ideal level of sleep is:

• 7-9 hours daily for adults;
• 8-10 hours daily for ages 13-18 years;
• 9-12 hours daily for ages 6-12 years; and
• 10-16 hours daily for ages 5 and younger.

Making small changes in your daily habits can make a big difference in your sleep quality and overall health. Instead of turning on the TV to help you fall asleep, try reading a book or journaling about your day. Putting your phone in another room can also prevent the temptation to scroll in bed. Implementing these small habits now can help you prepare for the upcoming daylight-saving time change and ensure your sleep patterns are strong and more likely to remain consistent all year long.

Resource: https://www.heart.org/-/media/Healthy-Living-Files/Infographics/Sleep-Well--Infographic.pdf

Sources: heart.org and stroke.org

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As we conclude the commemoration of the 100^th Black History Month, we’re celebrating it by turning our intentions toward some of the trailblazing Black physicians, nurses, research scientists, and healthcare pioneers who not only advanced medical care throughout history but broke down barriers in the process.

And while these individuals and their legacies are part of a history that deserves amplification outside of just one calendar month a year, Black History Month offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on the immeasurable impact of these contributions in saving or improving so many lives.

So, please join us in celebrating the legacies of these Black healthcare pioneers (and take a few moments to learn more about their phenomenal lives and contribution to our health and history):

Historical Pioneers

• James McCune Smith (1813–1865): The first African American to earn a medical degree in the U.S., Smith established his own practice and pharmacy in New York City. He was a prominent abolitionist and contributed to medical literature, advocating for the rights of Black individuals.
• Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895): The first Black woman to receive an MD degree in the U.S., Crumpler focused on providing medical care to formerly enslaved individuals and authored one of the first medical publications by an African American.
• Daniel Hale Williams (1856–1931): Known for performing one of the first successful open-heart surgeries, Williams founded the first Black-owned interracial hospital in the U.S. and was a pioneer in surgical practices.
• Patricia Bath (1942–2019): An ophthalmologist who invented the laserphaco probe for cataract surgery, Bath was the first Black woman to receive a medical patent. She founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness, advocating for eye health in underserved communities.

Contemporary Leaders

• Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD: As the first woman president of Morehouse School of Medicine, Montgomery Rice has significantly increased the number of MD candidates and focused on health disparities affecting women of color.
• David Satcher, MD, PhD: The first African American to lead the CDC, Satcher has been instrumental in addressing health disparities and promoting public health initiatives.
• Sandra Lindsay: Known for being the first person in the U.S. to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, Lindsay has been a strong advocate for health equity and vaccination in underserved communities.
• John Nkengasong, PhD: As the founding director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Nkengasong has played a crucial role in public health responses in Africa, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These individuals represent just a fraction of the many African American doctors who have made significant impacts on healthcare, advocating for equity and advancing medical knowledge throughout history. Their legacies continue to inspire future generations in the medical field.